by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER X.
A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
On the following day Little Paul was missed at school, and some anxietywas felt by his companions concerning him. It was feared that theexertion of the race had proved too great for him, and that he was tooill to come out. All the other boys appeared as usual, and none of themseemed to be the worse for the violent exercise they had taken.
Before night, however, they learned that Little Paul was quite well, andhad been detained at home to assist his mother. This intelligenceremoved their anxiety, and their fears lest boat racing should be deemedan improper recreation, and dangerous to the health of the boys. Fridayand Saturday passed, and he did not appear at school; but it was saidthat his mother was very busy, and nothing was thought of thecircumstance.
On Saturday afternoon the Butterfly club had assembled in their hall,and were talking over the affairs of the association until the timeappointed for the excursion to Center Island. Little Paul had not comeyet, and the boys began to fear that they should be obliged to make theexcursion with only five oars on one side.
"What do you suppose is the reason?" asked Dick Chester.
"I have no idea; I hope nothing has happened, for Little Paul has notbeen absent from school before this season," replied Tony.
"I hope not," added Henry Brown. "Suppose we send a committee to inquireafter him."
This was deemed an excellent suggestion, and Henry and Dick wereimmediately appointed a committee of two, by the "chair," to attend tothe matter. They departed upon their mission, and after the boys hadwondered a while longer what kept Paul away, another topic was broughtup--a matter which was of the deepest interest to the young boatmen, andwhich had claimed their attention during all their leisure moments forseveral days.
I say their leisure moments; for the affairs of the club were notpermitted to interfere with any of the usual duties of the members. Athome and at school, it was required that everything should be done welland done properly. As may be supposed, this was not an easy matter forboys whose heads were full of boats and boating; and about once a weekthe coxswains found it advisable to read a lecture on the necessity ofbanishing play during work hours. "Whatsoever thy hands find to do, doit with all thy might," was a text so often repeated that it hadvirtually become one of the articles of the constitution.
The boys felt the necessity of following this precept. They realizedenough of the law of cause and effect to be aware that, if their homeand school duties were neglected, or slovenly done, boating would soonobtain a bad reputation; so both parents and teacher found that theclubs were a great help rather than a hindrance in the performance oftheir several functions.
So strongly were the Zephyrs impressed with the necessity of notpermitting the club to interfere with home and school duties, that, atthe latter part of their first season, they had established a rule bywhich any member who wilfully neglected his duties should be, for acertain time, excluded from the club. And this rule was not a deadletter. One Wednesday forenoon Charles Hardy had wasted his time inschool, and failed in his lessons. On his slate was found a drawing of aclub boat, manned by certain ill-looking caricatures, which explainedthe cause of the defection. An excursion had been planned for thatafternoon, and when Charles presented himself at the boat-house, he waspolitely informed that he could not go. In vain he pleaded; Fred Harper,who was coxswain at the time, was very civil and very gentle, but he wasinflexible. And the culprit had the satisfaction of sitting upon a rockon shore, and seeing what a fine time the fellows were having.
The effect was decidedly salutary, and another case of such disciplinedid not again occur. The boys, zealous to keep their favorite sport ingood repute, adopted the regulation for the present year, in both clubs.Without such precautions as these it was plain that boating would soonbecome a nuisance, which neither parents nor teachers would tolerate.Therefore the members of the clubs made it a point to keep their"voyages," their plans and schemes, out of their minds at times whentheir heads should be filled with, other matters. It was astonishing towhat an extent they succeeded; and boys would often be surprised to seehow well they can do, if they would only set about it earnestly and witha determination to succeed.
The notable scheme which just now engrossed the attention of theButterflies was no less than the establishment of a "fleet of boats"upon the lake. The dream of half a dozen boats, under command ofCommodore Frank Sedley, maneuvering on the water, performing beautifulevolutions, and doing a hundred things which they could not then define,was so pleasant, so fascinating, that they could not easily give it up.
There would be the commodore in his "flag boat," signalizing the fleet,now bidding them pull in "close order," now ordering a boat out onservice, and now sending one to examine a bay or a harbor. And then, ifthey could only get leave to explore Rippleton River, how the commanderof the squadron would send out a small craft to sound ahead of them, andto buoy off the rocks and shoals, and how the people on the banks of thestream would stare when they saw them moving in sections against thesluggish current! Ah, a fleet of boats was such a brilliant ideal, thatI will venture to say more than one of the boys lay awake nights tothink about it.
I will not attempt to tell my young friends all the queer fanciesconcerning the squadron in which they indulged. They were essentiallyair castles, very beautiful structures, it is true, but as yet theyrested only on the clouds. But the means of realizing this magnificentideal was within their grasp. They had the money to buy the boats, andthe only question was, whether George Weston, the "director" of theclub, would permit the purchase.
"What have you done about the fleet, Tony?" asked Joseph Hooper.
"I have spoken to my brother about it," replied Tony, with a smile.
"What did he say?"
"He had no objection."
"Hurrah! We shall have the fleet then! And Tony, we shall go in forhaving you commodore part of the time."
"That we will!" echoed half a dozen voices.
"You would make as good a commodore as Frank," added Joseph.
"I guess not," answered Tony, modestly. "Didn't you see how slick Frankbeat us in the race? If I had followed his tactics, we might have stoodsome chance, at least."
"Some chance! Didn't we keep ahead of him till we had got almost home?"
"Yes; but that was a part of Frank's tactics. He let us get tired out,and then beat us. But we haven't got the fleet yet, fellows, and we area pack of fools to count the chickens before they are hatched."
"You said George has no objections," replied Joseph, glancing anxiouslyat Tony.
"He has not, but he wants to consult Captain Sedley before he consents."
The boys looked a little disconcerted at this intelligence, and amomentary silence ensued.
"Do you think he will object, Tony?" asked one.
"I am pretty sure he will not."
"Have you said anything to Frank about it?"
"Yes; and he says the Zephyrs will put their money with ours, if we getthe fleet."
"Hurrah! I _know_ his father will consent!"
"I have even got a hint from him that he should not object," added Tony,very quietly.
"That is glorious! We shall certainly have the fleet then!" shoutedJoseph Hooper.
"I am pretty sure there will be no trouble about it. Almost everybody iswilling to admit now that the clubs are a good thing; that they keep thefellows out of mischief, and stimulate them to do their duty at home andat school. So much for our strict regulations. If we can get more boats,and form more clubs, everybody concerned will be the better for it."
"That's the idea."
"We can get four small boats for our money--can't we?" asked one of theboys.
"Frank thought we had better get different sized boats," replied Tony.
"For different kinds of service," added Joseph, demurely.
"Say, one eight-oar boat, one six-oar, and two four-oar," said Tony.
"That would be first rate! Then we could take in twenty-two fellows."
"Twenty-three; the commodore would not be the coxswain of any boat, butcommand the whole."
The boys grew so nervous and excited during this fine discussion, thatthey could hardly keep their seats. In imagination the fleet was alreadyafloat, and the broad pennant of Commodore Sedley was flying on boardthe Zephyr.
"How long before we can get the boats, Tony?" asked a little fellow,his eyes snapping with delight at the glorious anticipation.
"Perhaps they can be bought ready made. We need not wait for new ones.In a few weeks, at least before vacation---- Hallo, Paul! I am glad youhave come."
Little Paul looked very sad as he entered Butterfly Hall. With a faintsmile he received the greetings of his friends.
"All aboard!" shouted Tony, as he rose front his chair. "You haven't gotyour uniform on, Paul."
"I can't go with you, Tony," replied Little Paul, in a gloomy tone.
"Not go with us! Why not? What is the matter?"
"I must leave the club too," he added, in a husky voice.
"Leave the club!"
"We are going to move Down East."
"That's too bad!"
All the boys gathered round Little Paul, and there was a troubled lookupon their countenances.
"We cannot stay here any longer," continued the poor boy, as he dashed atear from his eye.
It was evident to all that some misfortune had overtaken the Munroefamily, and Little Paul's sorrows excited the deepest interest andsympathy.
Without any solicitation on the part of his companions, the littlefellow told them the story of his father's trials, and the reason why hewas compelled to leave Rippleton.
"When is the money due, Paul?" asked Tony.
"On the first of May. My father has no money end he cannot pay thenote."
"How much did you say it was?"
"Five hundred dollars. It is a great sum for us."
"My father says 'Squire Chase is not any better than he ought to be,"added Dick Chester, who had returned with Little Paul.
"He is a very hard man," replied Paul. "But I must go home again. Ishall see you before I leave town;" and the poor fellow turned away tohide his tears.
"Poor Little Paul!" said Tony, when he had gone.
"How I pity him!" added Henry Brown.
"So do I," reiterated Joseph Hooper.
"How much do you pity him, fellows?" asked Tony, seating himself in hisarm-chair.
"So much that we would help him if we could," answered Henry.
"You can help him."
A deep silence ensued.
"Have you the nerve to make a great sacrifice, Butterflies?" exclaimedTony with energy.
"We have."
"I move you, Mr. Chairman, that our four hundred dollars be applied tothe relief of Little Paul's father," said Henry Brown, catching Tony'sidea.
"Second the motion," added Dick Chester, promptly.
"Bravo!" shouted Tony, slapping the table with his fist. "That's what Icall noble! But before we do it, just think what a fine thing the fleetwould be. It is a great sacrifice."
"Question!" called Joseph Hooper.
"Think well, fellows," said Tony. "Any remarks upon the subject will bein order. It is a great question, and ought not to be hastily decided."
"Question!" shouted the whole club, wildly.
"Those in favor of applying the four hundred dollars to the relief ofMr. Munroe will signify it," said Tony.
"All up!"
"_It is a unanimous vote!_"